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Keith, Hawks play spoiler role to Blues

By JOE HARRIS
The Associated Press

April 5, 2018

Jeff Roberson

Caption

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender J-F Berube watches a loose puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS – Duncan Keith and the Blackhawks did their part to spoil the St. Louis Blues’ playoff chances.

The star defenseman scored a power-play goal with 8.5 seconds left, and the Hawks beat St. Louis, 4-3, on Wednesday night.

Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist, Andreas Martinsen and Blake Hillman also scored, and Jean-Francois Berube made 30 saves. The Hawks beat the Blues for the first time in three meetings this season.

“We’re trying to win the game,” Keith said. “At the end of the day, it’s a bigger game for them, but I thought we did a good job of matching their intensity, and for us it’s fun to play in a game like that. ... There was something on the line, so it was a little easier to get the fire going little bit.”

Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn each had a goal and an assist for the Blues. They have lost four straight to fall a point behind idle Colorado for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Robert Bortuzzo also scored for the Blues, and Jake Allen made 22 saves in his 14th straight start.

“We played terrible in the third from myself out,” Allen said. “It’s unacceptable, especially at home against a team that really has nothing to play for except beat us.”

Hillman scored a short-handed goal, his first in the NHL, midway through the second to cut the Blues’ lead to 3-2. He is the fifth Hawk to score his first career goal this season.

“It’s probably the hardest one-timer I’ve ever taken in my life,” said Hillman, who was playing in his second NHL game. “I closed my eyes, and it went through a couple of bodies, and luckily Allen didn’t see it.”

DeBrincat tied it at 3 at 8:30 of the third with an unassisted goal, before Keith found the net for the first time in 22 games.

“It’s been awhile since he scored obviously, but we did some good things as the game progressed and drew the penalty and got a break,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said.

Bortuzzo opened the scoring at 4:16 of the first period with his fourth goal of the season.

Martinsen tied it for the Hawks at 8:57 with his first goal of the season, firing a wrist shot that trickled between Allen’s legs after the Blues failed to clear the puck twice.

Schenn regained the lead for the Blues only 47 seconds into the second period, putting home a rebound from Vince Dunn’s shot from the high slot. Schenn’s 27th goal is a career high.

Tarasenko made it 3-1 at 5:44 of the second. St. Louis took advantage of a Hawks defensive line change, and Schenn sprung Tarasenko for a breakaway.

FANCY STICK WORK

Only 52 seconds into the game, Jaden Schwartz had a wrap-around attempt into a wide-open net, but Keith got his stick on the goal line to block the puck until Berube could get his glove down. The play was reviewed and it was determined that the puck did not cross the line.

“I just tried to do what I could there to get everything I could, all the pressure on my stick, because I knew he had some momentum coming around there and was trying to wrap it around, the lane wasn’t there,” Keith said. “A little luck too in that regard, but Berube ended up getting over there and taking the pressure off.”

NOTES: Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo played in his 615th career game, one shy of Bob Plager for second-most by a defenseman in franchise history. ... The Hawks will honor Hall of Famer Stan Mikita before Friday night’s home game against the Blues. Mikita’s grandsons will take the ice on his behalf during the national anthem, and highlights of Mikita’s career will be played. ... Blues prospect goaltender Ville Husso (San Antonio) was named to the 2017-2018 AHL All-Rookie team. ... Blackhawks prospect defenseman Adam Clendening was selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week after scoring two goals and five assists for the week ending April 2.